‘Ranes falsely took Shah's name to pressure cops'

In a detailed reply opposing the anticipatory bail pleas of Union minister Narayan Rane (69) and his MLA son Nitesh (39), the police said that after their questioning at Malwani police station on March 5, the duo gave a false statement to the media that they had called up Union home minister Amit Shah and were allowed to go.

- Rebecca Samervel

Mumbai: This, the police said, showed that the Ranes were putting pressure on the investigators and witnesses, and creating hurdles in the probe. “If their anticipatory bail plea is granted, they will not cooperate with the investigation,” the police said. The father-son duo has been booked for allegedly making defamatory and derogatory statements about the death of Disha Salian (28), talent manager of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

With the matter posted for hearing on Tuesday, the Dindoshi sessions court continued their interim protection from arrest until then. The court also allowed Salian’s mother’s plea to intervene and assist the prosecution.

Last week, the Ranes, through their advocate Satish Maneshinde, had moved anticipatory bail pleas claiming that they are innocent and have been wrongly implicated.